Napkin-dispensing cabinet



Sept. 24, 1929. A. G. KRUEGER NAPKIN DISP ENSING CABINET Filed Aug. 25,1928 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFIE ALBERT G.KnUEGnn, or ennniv BAY, Wiscons n, ASSIGNOR T ALWIN MANUFAC- T BING 0.,O G EN B WISCONSIN NAPKIN-DISLPENSING CABINET Application filed August25, 1928.

This invention relates to napkin dispensing cabinets.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of napkindispensing cabinet,

which is so constructed that the cabinet may be swung downwardly forfilling and will be held against complete downward motion by means of apressure plate, such pressure plate being automatically moved out of theway to permit ready filling, and which is also so formed that when thecabinet is rocked back into normal position, the pressure plate isautomatically moved free of the napkins, i

so that it will not inadvertently shift then},

and ultimately is allowed to snap into PQSlplate urges the napkinsforwardly during the dispensing with a yielding pressure, and when thenapkins are completely dispensed is held in a predetermined position soas to close the entrance opening of the cabinet and prevent an unsightlyappearance.

Further objects are to provide a napkin dispensing device, which may bevery cheaply manufactured, and which consists of a relatively smallnumber of easily produced and rugged parts.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the cabinet showingone portion of the cabinet in partially closed position and the otherportion of the cabinet opened out for filling. Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view through the cabinet, showing the cabinet in closedposition, with one compartment filled and the other empty.

Figure 3 is a plan view with the upper portion of the cabinet sectionedoff.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detailed view of one of thespring-pressed levers.

It is to be distinctly understood that although a double cabinet hasbeen shown, nevertheless the invention may be equally well applied to asingle cabinet.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a base plate 1 isprovided upon which Serial No. 302,109.

two rectangular cabinets 2 are pivotally mounted. These cabinets areprovided with front openings 3 through which the napkins may bewithdrawn, such openings being surrounded by inwardly turned marginalflanges 4. The cabinets'are cut away slightly at their bottom so as toclear the supporting ears 5 for the levers 6. These levers are urgedtowards the position shown in Figure e by means of springs 7. Thesprings may be wrapped about the pintle pins 8 and may hear at one endagainst the base 1, the other end of the spring being received beneathan upturned clip 9 struck outwardly from the body of the lever.Preferably these lovers are channel-shaped and formed of sheet metal.Each lever is provided with a camshaped lower portion 10 adjacent itspivoted end and with an angularly arranged flat face 11 ad jacent itsfree end. Each lever carries a pressure plate 12, which is pivotallymounted by means of cars 13 carried by the pressure plates. Further, anysuitable lockmay be provided for holding the two parts of the cabinettogether when in closed position, as shown in Figure 2. For example, aspring arm 14 may be riveted to one of the members and may be providedwith a projecting portion 15 adapted to snap into an opening 16 formedin the other member of the cabinet.

In operation, when it is desired to fill the device, the spring catch isreleased and the cabinets rocked downwardly into the position shown onthe right hand side of Figure 1 It is to be noted that as the cabinetapproaches its extreme position it is held from contact with the tabletop or other support, by means of the pressure plate 12 which engagesthe lower or bottom wall of the cabinet. This pressure plate cannot rockfurtheron account of the flat face 11 of the lever 6. Consequently, thecabinet is held in this position with the pressure plate out of the wayand with the cabinet held out of contact with the table top. The napkinsmay be readily placed within the cabinet and the cabinet is then rockedinto vertical position. During this upward rocking motion the edge ofthe bottom of the cabinet engages the cam portion 10 of thecorresponding lever and rocks the lever rearwardly, thus withdrawing thepressure plate out of engagement with the napkins. The napkins aretherefore free from any possible chance of displacement by the pressureplate as this pressure plate is entirely free of the napkins during thisupward rocking motion.

However, when the cabinet arrives at its uppermost position, the bottomof the cabinet slides beneath the bottom of the cam portion 10 of thelever and permits the pressure plate to move inwardly under theinfluence of the spring, and to thereby hold the napkins securelyagainst the front wall of the cabinet. Asthe napkins are used up, thepressure plates follow the stack outwardly and hold the napkins, even tothe last one, in correct position behind the open front or mouth of thecabinet. 7

It is to be noted also, particularly from Figure 4, that the levers areeach provided with a flat bottom face 17 which contact with the bottomor base 1 of the device, and prevents the levers from rocking fartherforward or outwardly than shown on the righthand side of- Figure 1.

It will be seen that the device is easy to operate and requires nothought on the part of the operator. The operator merely opens thecabinet, renews the napkins, and closes the cabinet. The pressure plateautomatically moves out of the way after initially holding the cabinetin proper position for filling, and thereafter snaps into place andexerts the requisite pressure upon the napkins.

It will be seen further that the device is extremely compact, and whenin use all operative parts of the mechanism are hidden from View andconsequently a very sightly and attractive appearance is produced.

It is also to be noted that although the device performs the severalfunctions discussed above, nevertheless it is a simple and sturdyconstruction and is not likely to get out of order.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as illustrative rather than hunting as theinvention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such inventionis to be determined as claimed.

I claim 1. A napkin dispensing device comprising a base, a napkinreceiving cabinet pivoted adjacent its lower end to said base, apressure plate, a lever holding said pressure plate rearwardly of saidcabinet, a spring urging said lever outwardly, said lever having a camportion adapted for engagement by the lower wall of the cabinet when thecabinet is rocked upwardly into normal position, whereby said pressureplate is retracted during the upward motion of the cabinet.

2. A napkin dispensing device comprising a base, a lever pivoted to saidbase and spring urged outwardly, a napkin receiving cabinet pivoted infront of said lever to said base, said lever having a flat bottom faceadapted to engage said base and limit its outward motion and having afiat upper face, a pressure plate pivotally carried adjacent the upperend of said lever and adapted to contact with the flat upper face ofsaid lever when said cabinet is rocked downwardly and outwardly forfilling, said pressure plate engaging the upper side of the bottom wallof the cabinet and limiting the outward rocking motion of said cabinet.

3. A napkindispensing device comprising a base, a lever pivoted to saidbase and spring urged outwardly, a napkin receiving cabinet pivoted infront of said lever to said base, said lever having a flat bottom faceadapted to engage said base and limit its outward motion and having afiat upper face, a pres-;

sure plate pivotally carried adj acentthe upper end of said lever andadaptedto contact with the flat upper face of said lever when saidcabinet is rocked downwardly and outward ly for filling, the upper sideof the bottom wall of the cabinet and limiting the outward rockingmotion of said cabinet, said lever having a cam portion adjacent itsbottom adaptedto be engaged by the bottom wall of said cabinet torocksaid pressure plate rearwardly during the upward rocking of said cabinetand allowing the pressure plate to move into the cabinet when saidcabinet is in its normal position.

4. A napkin dispensing device comprising a base, a pair of cabinetspivotally mounted thereon, each cabinet having an open rear portion andhaving an apertured front wall through which napkins may be withdrawn, apair of levers pivoted to said base and springurged outwardly, pressureplatescarried by the upper ends of said levers and adapted to engage thenapkins within the respective cabinets under normal condition, saidpressure plates having their lower ends positioned to cooperate withsaid cabinets to hold said cabinets against complete downward rockingduring the filling operation.

5. A napkin dispensing a base, a pair of cabinets pivotally mountedthereon, each cabinet having an open rear portion and havingan aperturedfront wall through which napkins may be withdrawn, a pair of leverspivoted to said base and spring-urged outwardly, pressure plates carriedby the upper ends of said levers and adapted to. engage the napkinswithin the respective cabinets under normal condition,

said pressure plates having their lower ends.

positioned to cooperate with the bottom walls of said cabinets to holdsaid cabinets against complete downward rocking during the fillingoperation, said levers having cam-shaped lowerends cooperating with thebottom walls said pressure plate engaging.

device COIIIPIISIHg

